Liquid spray system for metal rolling

ABSTRACT

In a liquid spray system for metal rolling, improvements are disclosed comprising, inter alia, a header spray distributor body and spray nozzles carried on said body, a plurality of flow control zones formed in said body, said spray nozzles arranged corresponding to said flow control zones in sets of at least two nozzles in each set, each said flow control zone including an internal cavity formed in said body, liquid flow inlet means for each said cavity, the nozzles of each set serving as liquid flow outlet means for the repsective cavity, each said cavity having a non-uniform cross-section so as to define a liquid flow path which distributes the flow to the respective spray nozzles of that set so as to substantially achieve cubic equality of liquid flow from said nozzles, said body formed of layers, each cavity formed in at least one of said layers.

United States Patent 1 Nicoloif et al.

[ Nov. 13, 1973' LIQUID SPRAY SYSTEM FOR METAL 1,246,522 11/1917 Backstrom 239/560 ROLLING 1,440,612 [/1 923 Lynch 3,261,556 7/1966 Antalik 239/536 X Inventors: Nick Nicolofi, Detroit; Richard B.

Courson, Grosse Pointe Park;

Robert Lee Boden, Mt. Clemens, all of Mich,

Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King I Attorney-William L. Fisher Assignee: Almo Manifold and Tool Company, [57] ABSTRACT Center Line, Mich. In a liquid spray system for metal rolling, improvements are disclosed comprising, inter alia, a header filed May 1971 spray distributor body and spray nozzles carried on said body, a plurality of flow control zones formed in said body, said spray nozzles arranged corresponding to said flow control zones in sets of at least two noz- Appl. No.: 140,196

US. Cl 239/536, 239/550, 239/568,

[52] zles in each set, each said flow control zone including 239/600 an internal cavity formed in said body, liquid flow means for each i i y the nozzles of each [58] Field of Search 239/568, 550, 553, Set Serving as liquid flow outlet means for the repseo 239/594 555 tive cavity, each said cavity having a non-uniform cross-section so as to define a li uid flow ath which [56] References Cited distributes the flow to the respe tive spray nozzles of UNITED STATES PATENTS that set so as to substantially achieve cubic equality of 3,273,805 9/1966 Hall 239/600 liquid flow from said nozzles, said body formed of lay- 0, 6 6 k y 39/550 ers, each cavity formed in at least one of said layers. 3,416,736 12/1968 Morik 239/568 0 3,447,756 6/1969 Lawrence, Jr. 239/568 6 Claims, 8 Drawmg 3" 2,669,482 2/1954 Gold et al. 239/536 X PAlENTEmmvTams H 3.771.730 SHEET 1s; 2

l J 1 l I NICK NICOLOFF RICHARD B. COURSON ROBERT LEE BODEN INVENTORS THEIR ATTORNEY BY QEQE'M 1 LIQUID SPRAY SYSTEM FOR METAL ROLLING Our invention relates to liquid spray systems.

The principal object of our invention is to provide in a liquid spray system spray distributor means and method for controlling the flow of liquid through orientatable nozzles to produce predetermined spray patterns having even liquid flows through said nozzles which spray patterns can be maintained notwithstanding field replacement of one or more nozzles during service or maintenance of the liquid spray system.

The foregoing object of our invention and the advantages thereof will become apparent during the course of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are, respectively, front (shown broken), side elevational (partly in section) and fragmentary sectional views of a liquid spray system embodying our invention;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are, respectively, front (shown broken), side elevational (partly in section) and fragmentary sectional views of another embodiment of our invention in a liguid spray system and FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view'corresponding to FIG. 7 of still another embodiment of our invention.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to FIGS. l-4, said embodiment of liquid spray system shown therein which is designated comprises a spray distributor for spraying coolant liquid onto sheet metal, e.g., sheets of aluminum, during the process of thickness reduction thereof in a metal rolling mill. Said spray distributor 5 has an elongated manifold body having passageway means therein for conveying liquid therethrough formed of at least two layers and, in the instance, of four layers 6-9 of metal plates of ferrous metal, e.g., steel or of non-ferrous metal, e.g., aluminum, brazed together face to face. The frontmost layer 9 consists of a pair of spaced apart metal plates 10 and 11 which upstand from the front face of the 'metal plate forming the layer 8-at the'top and bottom, respectively, of said spray distributor5. The two front layers 8 and 9 hold a plurality of orientatable nozzles 12 in respect to each other depending upon particular application in which said spray distributor 5 is to be employed. In the instance, the nozzles 12 are arranged in equally longitudinally spaced apart transverse groups of three. The body of said spray distributor 5 is provided with longitudinally and transversely spaced apart threaded mounting apertures 30 extending therethrough from front to back thereof for attaching said spray distributor 5 to suitable stationary structure. In the instance, each nozzle 12 is threadably carried in a separate holdermeans such as a bushing 14 held fast in its respective metal layer 8 or 9 which bushing 14 is provided with a cylindrical flange 15.

The plurality of nozzles 12 are fed with liquid from the back of the spray distributor 5 and for each said transverse group of nozzles in the case of the nozzle held in the metal plate 10 it is fed with liquid via a passageway 16 drilled from front to back or vice versa of the spray distributorS subsequent to brazing thereof through the layers 6-9 which passageway 16 is pipe tapped at the rear end thereof as shown. For each said transverse group of nozzles in the case of the nozzle held in the metal plate 11 and of the nozzle held in the metal plate forming the layer 8 these are manifolded by a passageway in the form of a taperedchannel 17 cut in the metal plate forming the layer 7 prior to brazing of the spray distributor 5 and are fed with liquid by passageways 18-20 formed in the spray distributor 5 subsequent to brazing thereof. The passageway 18 which is common to the two manifolded nozzles is drilled from back to front of the spray distributor 5 through the metal plate forming the layer 6 until it intersects said channel 17 and is pipe tapped at the rear end thereof as shown. The passageway 19 for the nozzle held in the metal plate 11 is drilled from front to back of the spray distributor 5 through the metal plate 11 and the metal plate forming the layer 8until it intersects said channel 17. The passageway 20 for the nozzle held in the metal plate forming the layer 8 is first drilled and then reamed from front to back of the spray distributor 5 subsequent to brazing thereof through the 1 metal plateforming the layer 8 until it intersects said channel 17. For each said transverse group of nozzles the passageway 20 is reamed to more precisely fit the respective bushing 14 and the front ends of the passageways 16 and 19 are likewise reamed, as at 21 and 22, respectively, for the same purpose. For each said transverse group of nozzles the tapered channel 17 decreases in width from its end where liquid enters, in the instance, from the passageway 18, to its farthest end, in the instance, to the passageway 19, so that there is bypass space on opposite sides of each nozzle prior to the furthest nozzle, in the instance, on opposite sides of the nozzle fed by the passageway 20, whereby to evenly distribute the flow of liquid through the two nozzles manifolded by said tapered channel 17. The body of said distributor 5 may be formed as a solid block having passageway means therein formed by drilling which would serve as substitutes for the passageway means 16-21 with the exception that the equivalent of the tapered'channel 17 cannot be provided by drilling.

Each nozzle 12 is provided with an axial liquid passageway 25 therein extending between the front and rear ends thereof and is orientatable, in the instance, by virtue of both a hexagonal flange 26 thereon formed behind a front stem 27 and a diametrically disposed V- shaped groove 28 formed in said stem 27. Said passageway 25 is formed in said nozzle 12 so that its diameter gradually decreases in cross-section at the front end thereof toform a flow restriction orifice where it intersects said groove 28 so as to produce a liquid spray in the form of a sheet of liquid which is coplanar withthe axis of said groove 28. The rear end of each nozzle 12 is provided with an externally threaded rear shank which threadably engages in an internally threaded through-opening 29 in the respective bushing 14.'Liquid tight seal means are provided between; each nozzle 12 and its respective bushing 14 in theform of an O-ring 31 carried on'each nozzle 12 in an annular groove formed on'said rear shank behind and at thebase of the g The flange 26 on each nozzle 12 enables it to bottom against its respective bushing 14 via the flange 15 on the latter so that thegroove 28 can be disposed in a predetermined rotational position in respect to the body of the spray distributor 5. All of the nozzles 12 are identically aligned on the body of the spraydistributor 5 by virtue of being bottomed in their respective holder means by the same predetermined torqueso that all of the grooves 28 have the same rotational position, whereby, from one end to the other of the body of the spray distributor 5 longitudinally and transversely spaced apart liquid sprays are produced in the form of parallel sheets of liquid corresponding in orientation, spacing and numbers to the nozzles 12.

In the manufacture and assembly of said spray distributor 5, after the passageways 16-22 are formed therein, as mentioned, supra, each nozzle 12 is assembled in its respective holder means with a predetermined fastening force which can be duplicated in the field for replacement nozzles. We have found that a satisfactory way of assemblying the nozzles 12 in their respective bushings 14 at a predetermined rotational position and one which can be duplicated for purposes of replacing nozzles in the field during use of the spray distributor 5 is to bottom each nozzle 12 a given amount in its respective bushing 14 by applying, as with a torque wrench, a predetermined torque, e.g., 40 ftlbs, to the nozzle 12 while the bushing 14 is held fast. Of course, in the manufacture of the nozzles 12 they are all identically formed and each is orientated in exactly the same way as the others at the time that the groove 28 is formed therein. Said bushing 14 with its respective nozzle 12 so assembled therein is inserted into its respective passageway 20, 21 or 22 and rotated therein until the respective groove 28 is disposed at the desired rotational position in respect to a reference line such as at an acute angle to one of the long edges of the body of the spray distributor 5. Said bushing 14 is then held at said predetermined rotational position while the same is made fast to and liquid tight sealed in its respective metal layer 8 or 9 in well known ways, as for example, by welding, brazing, adhesively bonding, bolting, pinning, press fitting or otherwise fastening said bushing 14 to the body of said spray distributor 5. The foregoing procedure is repeated for each bushing 14 having its respective nozzle 12 assembled thereto until all of the bushings 14 and their respective nozzles 12 are assembled on the spray distributor 5, whereupon all of the nozzles 12 will be identically aligned as mentioned, supra. Each nozzle 12 is provided with a throughopening 32 in a corner of its shoulder 26 to accommodate a seal wire 31 which is threaded, in the instance, through a longitudinal group of nozzles and closed at its ends with ya lead seal 33 to prevent any nozzle 12 from falling from the spray distributor 5 in the unlikely event it may loosen.

In use of said spray distributor 5, a plurality of the same are mounted via the apertures 30 therein on sheet metal reduction machinery above and below sheet metal reduction rolls in longitudinally spaced apart locations over the path of travel of the sheet metal being reduced in thickness. Pipe connections are made to the rear ends of the passageway means 16 and 18 for liquid coolant lines. Each spray distributor 5 is mounted so that its axis is at a predetermined transverse position in respect to such path of travel and with its front face facing the reduction rolls so as to spray coolant liquid onto a face of the sheet metal being reduced in thickness in longitudinally and transversely spaced apart liquid sprays in the form of parallel sheets of liquid. Each such sheet of liquid fans out as it leaves its respective nozzle 12 but because each nozzle is assembled in its respective holder means with a predetermined fastening force and at a predetermined rotational position as described, supra, no one of such liquid sheets intersects any other liquid sheet because of the precise alignment of the nozzles 12 which are held to within i 1 of rotation even for nozzles that have to be replaced in the field, To replace a nozzle 12 in the field the nozzle to be replaced is removed from the spray distributor 5 by breaking one of the lead seals 33, removing the seal wire 31 from the nozzle to be replaced and unthreading the same from its respective bushing 14. The replacement nozzle is then threaded into the threaded opening 29 of the empty bushing 14 and bottomed therein by the same amount as the bushing replaced by applying the same predetermined torque to the replacement nozzle while the bushing 14 is held fast in the body of the spray distributor 5. For a given pressure of the liquid source each sheet of liquid issuing from any nozzle 12 has an included angle, wall thickness and throw distance dependent upon the characteristics of the particular nozzle, such as the size of the flow restriction in the passageway 25 and the depth and shape of the groove 28 and an orientation dependent upon the orientation of the respective nozzle. By virtue of the even distribution of liquid within the body of the spray distributor 5 to each nozzle 12 thereof the volumetric liquid flow of each liquid sheet is equal to that of every other liquid sheet.

Referring to FIGS. 5-7, 40 designates said embodiment of liquid spray system shown therein which also comprises a spray distributor of the same type as the spray distributor 5 also having, in the instance, an elongated manifold body-formed of four layers 4144 of metal brazed together face to face. The frontmos t layer 44 consists of spaced apart metal plates 45 and 46 which upstand from the front face of the metal plate forming the layer 43 at the top and bottom, respectively, of said spray distributor 40. The two front layers 43 and 44 hold a plurality of orientatable nozzles 48 in spaced apart groups and in a predetermined orientation in respect to each other depending upon the particular application in which said spray distributor 40 is to be employed. In the instance, the nozzles 48 are arranged as in the prior embodiment 5. The body of said spray distributor 40 is provided with mounting apertures 49 and may be formed as a solid block as mentioned for the prior embodiment 5. In the instance, each nozzle 48 I is provided with a cylindrical flange 59 and front and rear stems 47 and 57, respectively, and is carried fast in its respective metal layer 43 or 44, via said rear stem 57 and a pair of diametrically disposed pins 64 which are press fitted in and made fast to said flange 59 and project from the rear face thereof. The pair of pins 64 of each nozzle 48 can be orientated in any predetermined rotational position in respect to the groove 62. Of course in the manufacture of the nozzles 48 all of the pairs of pins 64 are identically orientated. The plurality of nozzles 48 are fed with liquid from the back of the spray distributor 40 and for each transverse group of nozzles these are fed with liquid via passageways 52-56 generally corresponding, respectively, to the passageways 16-20 in the prior embodiment-5. The passageways 52, 55 and 56 are drilled but not reamed.

Each nozzle 48 is provided with an axial liquid passageway 58 therein extending between the front and rear ends thereof and is orientatable, in the instance, by virtue of said flange 59, said pins 64, and a diametrically disposed V-shaped groove 62 formed in said front stem 47. Said pins 64 are received, respectively, in a pair of diametrically disposed blind ended apertures 65 formed, respectively, in the metal layers 43 and 44 and opening to the front faces thereof. Said passageway 58 is formed in the nozzle 48 like the passageway 25 to form a flow restriction orifice where it intersectssaid groove 62 so as to produce a liquid spray inthe form of a sheet of liquid which is coplanar with the axis of said groove 62.

Liquid tight seal means are provided between the rear stem 57 of each nozzle 48 and its respective passageway in the metal layers 43 and 44 in the form of an O-ring 61 carried on said rear stem 57 in an annular groove formed therein behind and spaced rearwardly of the flange 59.

Dirt tight seal means are provided at the front of each nozzle 48 in the form of cover plate means 66 preferably individual in respect to each nozzle which is bolted, as at 68, to its respective metal layer 43 and 44. Each cover plate means 66 has a cylindrical cavity 67 opening to its rear face and an aperture 69 intersecting said cavity 67 and opening to the front face of said'plate means 66 for receiving, respectively, the flange 59 and the front stem 47 of the respective nozzle 48. Said dirt tight seal means are also provided in the form of an ring 63 carried on said front stem 47 in an annular groove formed therein ahead of and spaced forwardly ofthq a s i s 63 491359. amassed when the respective stems 47 and 57 are disposed in their respective apertures or passageways. The pins 64 are formed on each nozzle 48 in a predetermined relationship to the groove 62 as, in the instance, on the axis thereof so that said groove 62 can be disposed in a predetermined rotational position in respect to the body of the spray distributor 40. All of the nozzles 48 are identically aligned on the body of the spray distributor 40 by virtue of each pair of apertures 65 being disposed at an identical angle to a reference line, such as at the same acute angle to one of the long edges of the body of the spray distributor 40, so that all of the grooves 62 have the same rotational position, whereby, from one end to the other of the body of the spray distributor 40, longitudinally and transversely spaced apart liquid sprays are produced as in said prior spray distributor 5.

In the manufacture and assembly of said spray distributor 40 after the passageways 52-56 and the pairs of apertures 65 are formed therein each nozzle 48 is assembled in its respective metal layer 43 or 44 by inserting the rear stem 57 thereof in its respective passage way 52, or 56 and the pair of pins 64 thereon in the respective pair of apertures 65.; Thereafter a cover plate means 66 for said nozzle 48 is disposed over the flange 59 and the front stem 47 thereof and bolted to the respective metal layer 43 or 44. The foregoing. procedure is repeated for each nozzle 48 and its respective cover plate means 66 until all of the nozzles 48 and their respective cover plate means 66 are assembled on the spray distributor 40,whereupon all of the nozzles 48 will be identically aligned as mentioned, supra.

The spray distributor 40 is used in the same way as the prior embodiment 5. The alignment of the nozzle 48 is even more precise than the alignment of the nozzles 12, i.e. to withinione-half or less of rotation.

Thesameprecisio n is applicable tonozzles that have tobe replaced in the field..To replace a nozzle 48 in the field the cover plate means 66 therefor is unfastened from the respective metal layer 43 or 44 and the nozzle to be replaced is pulled out of its respective passageway 52, 55 or 56 and the replacement nozzle inserted in its place with the pins 64'disposed in the apertures 65 and said cover plate means 66 replaced over the replacement nozzle. The included angle, wall thickness, throw distance and orientation of each sheet of liquid issuing from any nozzle 48 is dependent upon the same factors as previously mentioned for the nozzle 12.

The embodiment of our invention shown in FIG. 8 is designated and has spaced apart metal plates for the frontmost metal layer of the spray distributor body as in the prior embodiments 5 and 40, one of which metal plates is shown and indicated at 146. A cylindrical cavity 167 which is internally tapped, as at 108, at the front end thereof is formed in said metal plate 146 at the front end thereof ahead of the respective liquid passageway in which the rear stem 157 of the respective nozzle 148 is disposed and liquid tight sealed by an 0-ring 161. The nozzle 148 which has an axial liquid passageway 158 and an intersecting diametrically disposed groove 162 is orientated in respect to the spray distributor body by pins 164 and apertures 165 therefor as in the prior embodiment 40. At the front end of each nozzle l48'dirt tight seal means are provided in the form of cover means 166 having a wrench engaging portion 156 and an externally threaded cylindrical flange portion 166 which threadably engages in the cavity 167 and bottoms against the front face of the flange 159 to seal off entranceof dirt into the cavity 167. Said cover means 166 is also provided with an axial aperture 169 which accommodates and engages the outside cylindrical surface of the front stem 147. The spray distributor 140 is used the same way as the prior embodiments 5 and 40.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by our invention a liquid spray system in which the object hereinabove set forth together with many thoroughly practical advantages hasbeen successfully achieved. While preferred embodiments of our invention have been shown and described it is to be understood that variations and changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of our invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a liquid spray system for metal rolling, a header consisting of a spray distributor body and spray nozzles carried on said body, said spray nozzles arranged corresponding to said flow control zones in sets of at least two nozzles in each set, each said flow control zone including an internal cavity formed in said body, liquid flow inlet means for each said cavity, the nozzles of each set serving as liquid flow outlet means for the respective cavity, each said cavity having a non-uniform cross-section so as to define a liquid flow path which distributes the flow to the respective spray nozzles of that set so as to substantially achieve cubic equality of liquid flow from said nozzles, said body formed of layers, each cavity formed in at least one of said layers.

2, In a liquid spray system for metal rolling, means as claimed in claim 1, said body consisting of at least two metal plates brazed together face to face, each said cavity cut in at least one of said plates prior to brazing of said body.

3. In a liquid spray system for metal rolling, a header consisting of a spray distributor body and spray nozzles carried on said body, each nozzle serving as liquid flow outlet means for liquid entering said body, a radially enlarged flange on each nozzle, and pin means projecting from the rear face of each said flange, all of said pin means disposed on the same diameter in reference to the slit in said nozzles so that all of said nozzles and any field replacements therefor are orientated via their respective pin means on said body in respect to the same reference line, each said flange having front and back flat faces, and means for holding each nozzle on said body while pressing the back flange face of said nozzle against a mating face on said body.

4. In a liquid spray system for metal rolling, means as claimed in claim 3, said body having a threaded recess formed therein for each said nozzle, and a threaded fastener threadably engaged in each recess for holding and pressing the respective nozzle on said body.

IOW. 

1. In a liquid spray system for metal rolling, a header consisting of a spray distributor body and spray nozzles carried on said body, said spray nozzles arranged corresponding to said flow control zones in sets of at least two nozzles in each set, each said flow control zone including an internal cavity formed in said body, liquid flow inlet means for each said cavity, the nozzles of each set serving as liquid flow outlet means for the respective cavity, each said cavity having a non-uniform crosssection so as to define a liquid flow path which distributes the flow to the respective spray nozzles of that set so as to substantially achieve cubic equality of liquid flow from said nozzles, said body formed of layers, each cavity formed in at least one of said layers.
 2. In a liquid spray system for metal rolling, means as claimed in claim 1, said body consisting of at least two metal plates brazed together face to face, each said cavity cut in at least one of said plates prior to brazing of said body.
 3. In a liquid spray system for metal rolling, a header consisting of a spray distributor body and spray nozzles carried on said body, each nozzle serving as liquid flow outlet means for liquid entering said body, a radially enlarged flange on each nozzle, and pin means projecting from the rear face of each said flange, all of said pin means disposed on the same diameter in reference to the slit in said nozzles so that all of said nozzles and any field replacements therefor are orientated via their respective pin means on said body in respect to the same reference line, each said flange having front and back flat faces, and means for holding each nozzle on said body while pressing the back flange face of said nozzle against a mating face on said body.
 4. In a liquid spray system for metal rolling, means as claimed in claim 3, said body having a threaded recess formed therein for each said nozzle, and a threaded fastener threadably engaged in each recess for holding and pressing the respective nozzle on said body.
 5. In a liquid spray system for metal rolling, means as claimed in claim 4, liquid-tight seal means between each nozzle and said body, said seal means disposed rearwardly of the respective front and back flange faces on said nozzle.
 6. In a liquid spray system for metal rolling, means as claimed in claim 1, wire means wiring said nozzles together in rows so that any nozzle in any row is held from falling from said body by the other nozzles in that row. 